As I mentioned before, most mixing environments feature some sort of channel…insert capability allowing the engineer to insert a signal processor or effect…directly into the path of an audio signal in the Mixer.…In the analog days, this meant physically patching a signal processing device…through the mixing console's insert patch point, usually connected to some sort…of patch bay, and running any additional effects inserts in series until…returning the signal back into the Mixer's insert input.…

In the DAW era in Pro Tools while we can and do continue to use hardware…gear via hardware inserts which I'll show you, we generally opt for the easier…to manage and configure plug-in insert, which are often just virtual emulations…of the hardware processors mixers have used for years.…So plug-in inserts, what are they and what do they do?…Well, first off, a plug-in is just a small software program or algorithm that…runs inside of the Pro Tools Mixer and processes or affects the audio signal in a specific way.…

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Author

Released

8/20/2009

Once recording and editing are finished, audio engineers can take advantage of the training in Mixing and Mastering with Pro Tools to punch up the final output. Digidesign Certified Expert Brian Lee White covers all the basic mixing tools that every producer and engineer should know, from using EQ to add clarity and focus to using compression and limiting to maximize track levels within a mix. Brian stresses the importance of setting up a solid mixing plan prior to any work in Pro Tools, and gives advice on the best plug-ins for each stage of the process. Exercise files accompany the course.

Topics include:

Using the Pro Tools Creative Collection to add clarity, punch, width, and depth to a mix

Recording real-time automation moves for future replication

Building healthy and profitable mixing habits when putting a final mix together

Knowing when to process the audio of a track

Using saturation effects to capture that "analog" sound

Working with limiting and multiband compression during the mastering process